“Fine, but you only have today. It’s up to you to earn more of my time,” I challenge. I expected him to balk, but he just laughed.
“Challenge accepted, Gorgeous. Now quit trying to seduce me. I have a shower to go take—unless…
“Unless what?” I question, almost against my will.
“We could shower together…”
I grab the pillow behind me and sling it into his way too good-looking face. He tries to wrestle it away from me. “You’re such an ass,” I huff. His laughter echoes around me as he tosses the pillow to the floor. The sound wraps around me and somehow makes me feel alive in a way I can’t ever remember. I have a suspicion that I’ve never felt this way before. That should wake me up and make me run.
Just to prove what an idiot I am, it makes me want to stay right where I am…
Chapter 19
Dom
“Hey Dom, don’t forget you’re coming to dinner tonight.”
I stop walking when I hear my dad’s voice. I turn slowly. Luckily, the club is mostly empty today. Otherwise, this would be even harder for me. I can admit I’ve been trying to avoid my father since all the shit with Thomas and King…
I’ve actually not come to face to face with him for a month. That’s not easily done. Shit, I’m only stuck today because I’ve been dragging ass waiting until I could pick up Thea later. Breaker helped me clear my schedule today so I could spend it with her. She’s skittish as a foal around me, but she hasn’t run either. It may be only twenty-four hours, but I’m still taking it as a win.
“I can’t tonight, Dad. Got plans.”
“That seems to be your answer whenever your mother invites you over lately,” he says, his hard gaze boring into me.
“I’m a busy man.”
“Funny, Raze said Breaker had Rebel fill in for you today.”
“Is there a reason you are asking Raze anything about me?” I ask, unable to keep the anger out of my voice. Leave it to Raze to try and piss off my old man. That motherfucker still has a beat-down coming his way, brother or not. What he did to Thea may have worked out for me, but she deserved better, and I was respecting how he felt about her up to that point, because I thought he’d do right by her. Asshole.
“I went out to the garage to find you this morning before you left for the patrols. Imagine my surprise when you weren’t there. Last I checked, I was the president of this fucking thing. There’s a reason I make sure you’re on the frontline with Breaker.”
“I got shit I need to do. I cleared it with Breaker. I’ve been where I’m supposed to be for the club every other time. It’s not like I ask for time off constantly,” I counter, irritation thick in my voice. The problem is, Dad’s. pissed, and he’s not bothering to hide it either.
“You can drag your ass to dinner with your mother tonight.”
“I already have plans and they can’t be changed.”
“If you’re fucking around with Skull’s?—”
“I wouldn’t touch the bitch with a ten-foot pole.”
“Good—”
“But if I wanted to, it wouldn’t be any of your business. You’re my Prez, you’re my dad, but you don’t have any say in where I stick my dick.”
“Someone needs to. Maybe if I had sooner, you and your brother would still be talking.”
“Thomas and I talk,” I respond. It’s the truth, but even I know there’s a difference between sharing a text here or there and having a relationship. We’ll get there, but yeah, I got a lot of shit to make up for.
Dad snorts, giving me a derisive look that pretty much tells me he knows I’m full of shit. I just stare back at him blankly, refusing to defend myself. I know I fucked up with Thomas. At least I’m trying to own up to it. In my book, my father fucked up more. I may not have complete proof, but there’s enough smoke around King to announce a blazing forest fire. Other people might stick their head in the sand, but I refuse.
Dad rakes four of his fingers across the stubble on his jawline while his thumb massages against the underside of his chin.
“What are you doing?—”
Just as he starts to ask a question that I’m pretty sure I don’t want to answer, my phone rings. I pick it up and answer it without even looking. I need something to concentrate on other than my old man.